Living with my dementia

[Omaha Steve]

Most of you know I have a dementia (FTD) problem. I was diagnosed in 2014. Life expectancy was 10 years. So I'm doing pretty good. I believe the Trazodone is helping by slowing the advance of the disease. There is research to back this up.

This morning, after I let the dogs out, I started my morning routine. First thing, I started on the local paper, the Omaha World Herald. I didn't have any coffee yet. I don't have coffee until Marta comes downstairs. I saw the story about Dan Osborn. I rushed to post it in LBN. Problem was it was an opinion page. In my morning fog, I missed that.

Once I realized what I had done, I self deleted the LBN post. I have reposted it here in GD: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220719369

With my dementia, I'm going to make a mistake or two from time to time. Just remember, I don't do these things on purpose. Thanks for understanding.

OS

[Alice B.]

1. Hugs to you,

And the dogs!

[Tetrachloride]

2. Excitement gets us :)

especially with the thunder coffee of a certain shop.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. Mistakes are normal. Been there done that myself. Carry on. You are still a DU treasure. . . . nt

[babsbunny]

4. I think I'm the Queen of self deleting posts

I am 70, I blame it on that and being stressed most of the time. You are a legend! Keep on keeping on!!!!

[usonian]

5. Don't beat yourself up.

I'm unapologetically sharp as a tack, and still make misteaks.

Happens to everyeon.

You know something?

[markie]

6. hey,

all good

[Prairie_Seagull]

7. In addition, you are not alone Steve.

Cut yourself some slack bud. We all need to be kind to ourselves. Sounds good to me.

[hlthe2b]

8. You have one heck of a lot of folks behind you and pulling for you, Steve. Thanks for all you do!

[peacebuzzard]

9. You know all of us make mistakes like that. You are not alone...

and forgetting I hope is not a conclusive symptom; if it is, I think I have had these lapses & symptoms my whole life. I am not a doctor just someone mature and with experience in my resume'.

I had a serious moment decades ago that was a total lala land thing. I was in the pax seat with a first date and I looked down at my shoes and I had slipped my feet into two different shoes.
With the correct left/right configuration at least. And sort of the same color, but very obviously not a matching pair. Egads, I was so embarassed but I managed to terminate the date gently without the date noticing my shoes.

I don't think your supposed "moment" qualifies completely for a dementia slip. I and others I know have this without a diagnosis; it could be a senior "moment"? I chatted quite sometime with a co-worker yesterday and she told me several instances where she just "forgot". Like, a recent work trip we took together and she bought lovely chocolates overseas. Like 3 big boxes of home made special order specially baked and packed for travel chocolates in her overhead bag. When she arrived home she simply forgot about her special order until weeks or months later. She had to discard them.

[hay rick]

10. I do the same thing occasionally. I blame the Tylenol, LOL.

The LBN restrictions are easy to trip over.

[Hope22]

11. It happens!

No worries. Thanks for all you do around here! 💗

[Passages]

12. You're amazing is what you are!

[MiHale]

13. Woke up...no coffee...that's an everyday mistake....

No sweat, Steve.

[1WorldHope]

30. Make the coffee the night before and heat it up in the microwave in the morning.

I really appreciate all that you do for the DU community and the State of Nebraskans political choices.

[peacebuzzard]

61. hey great idea for us addicts.

I can't do a single thing without a shot of caffeine in the AM.

[surfered]

14. I make more mistakes than that and haven't had that diagnosis. Maybe I should get a second diagnosis. Good luck.🍀

[Stargazer99]

15. We love you Steve

[Smilo]

16. Steve, it must be so difficult for you,

but you are doing amazingly and you are so loved and admired by us on DU.

Hugs.

[chouchou]

17. I was going to ask for some money but, frankly I forgot who it was to ask for..

[TygrBright]

18. Steve, you are a valued friend. Your sharing is inspiring.

As we get older the number of people in our lives affected by some form of dementia inevitably increases, and may include ourselves.

Keeping dementia and its challenges secret and shameful only serves to make it worse for those struggling with the condition, and those who love someone(s) with the condition.

I have watched several people I care about struggle with dementia. One thing that I have observed more than once is that those who accept their diagnosis and attempt to learn how to live joyfully (and openly) with it in spite of all the changes tend to have an easier time with the challenge in so many ways.

It takes great courage, and great faith, to live so. But it is infinitely more full of grace and unexpected reward than putting all your energy into denial and paranoia and covering up.

Thank you.

appreciatively,
Bright

[bsiebs]

19. You are one of the pillars of DU... I always watch for your posts...

[EllieBC]

20. You are quite amazing.

Of course mistakes will be made! People without dementia make mistakes. No one would ever hold that against you.

Hugs to you. Dementia is frustrating and scary.

[mwmisses4289]

21. It happens. Thank you for being you.

[Frasier Balzov]

22. Recognizing when a decision wasn't quite right

is a hopeful sign.

Recognizing the reason it wasn't quite right is even more valuable!

Doing it in real time as the decision is being made is of course the ultimate capability.

That process will be slowing down and take more effort to focus on and retain the relevant threads of thought from moment to moment.

[pandr32]

23. You seem to be doing really well.

Making mistakes like you mentioned can be chalked up to aging, so your dementia seems to have been slowed right down--eleven years when told to expect ten!
My wish for you is that you have lots of happy, satisfying life moments going forward.
Smiles, too.
We, the DU community, love you.

[twodogsbarking]

24. Doing the best you can with the hand you were dealt. Keep humor if you can. Wish you the best.

[JMCKUSICK]

25. Thank you so much for such a humble post OS

That you make so few is a testament to you, your ethics, efforts and skill and your commitment to all three.
You are a real treasure to us.

[calimary]

26. Just hang in there and stay with us as long as you can.

You’re doing fine.

You’re doing as well as, and in many cases better than, expectations about conditions like yours advise us.

Hang in there and follow your doctor’s advice, and don’t forget to post here as often as you can. Your posts are always worth checking, reading, and enjoying.

[SheltieLover]

27. Cyber hugs to you, Steve

Hey, we all make mistakes!

[bronxiteforever]

28. Omaha Steve, love your posts.

Nothing to forgive just keep on keeping on and we got your back!

[CTyankee]

29. I had a brain scan and found I had early signs of Alzheimer's. So far, so good.

Hubby is very patient. He says, nicely, "you told me that, thanks." We're moving to a retirement community so I feel confident that I won't go too far off the beam before they catch me and get me whatever help I need.

[lostincalifornia]

31. People with or without issues inadvertently make post in the wrong group,

and it has nothing to do with any health related issues, it is a characteristic of the human condition.

Absolutely no need to apologize.

Take care.

[FemDemERA]

32. I have to say, You are

An Inspiration and a treasure here. Thank you for the OP update.

[Iris]

33. You are a leading voice here. Carry on!

[highplainsdem]

34. Sending hugs, Steve. And I want point out that it's VERY unlikely there are any DUers who've posted

a lot of OPs who haven't posted an OP in the wrong forum at least once. Especially if they regularly post OPs in a number of forums.

With LBN is particular, there are often types of OPs that don't belong there, but they usually get locked by the hosts fairly quickly.

As for morning fog - all of us experience that at times, whatever our age. If you think that's a sign of dementia, you haven't seen as many sleepy children as I have.

I haven't noticed anything you've done that I'd consider a sign of dementia. Please don't be too tough on yourself.

[SWBTATTReg]

35. Hang in there, OS! You are doing fine and well, and we got your back!

[DarthDem]

36. Best to you, Steve

The work here you do is wonderful. Just wonderful.

[no_hypocrisy]

37. Love you!

You’re my hero.

[ananda]

38. What is Trazodone exactly?

Is it a dementia med?

I had a bridge partner who said she
took it to help her sleep.

But I was already 99% she had dementia
then, so I'm now wondering if she took
it for that.

[Omaha Steve]

42. Trazodone is primarily used for the following conditions:

Technically, I use it for sleep.

Depression: Trazodone is used to treat major depressive disorder and can be prescribed alone or in combination with other antidepressants.

Insomnia: It is commonly used off-label for sleep difficulties, especially when insomnia is linked to depression.

Anxiety: Trazodone can help relieve symptoms of anxiety.

Other conditions: It may be used for other off-label purposes as determined by a doctor.

It was research in England that pointed to it slowing down FTD.

ALSO https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.neuropsych.21060166

Trazodone.
Trazodone has been effective in treating agitation and aggression in FTD and may also function as a sleep aid, if necessary (82). In one study, it was also found that trazodone can reduce the behavioral symptoms of FTD that were assessed by the NPI score, especially eating disorder, irritability, agitation, and depressive symptoms (95).

Further down: FTD treatment has been limited to the management of neuropsychiatric symptoms, these being the most prominent feature of the disease. Therapeutic strategies have focused on nonpharmacological interventions such as behavioral and environmental manipulation, caregiver interventions, and speech therapy for the language variants of FTD. Also, pharmacological treatment has also been used to treat these symptoms, with variable but sometimes positive results. With the advance of knowledge regarding the pathophysiology of FTD, pharmacological interventions such as the use of SSRIs, trazodone, or second-generation antipsychotics have a solid scientific basis for the treatment of FTD.

In the past 10 years, thanks to new techniques in neuroimaging, genetics, and biomarker analysis, much has been discovered about the phenomena underlying frontotemporal lobar degeneration. This has allowed the design of new molecule-based therapies that are still in the early stages of research but show promising results.

[ananda]

43. Thank you.

I'm glad it's helping.

[Warpy]

39. Your diagnosis was years ago

and it seems to be progressing very, very slowly, although you notice it more than we do. Whatever you're doing seems to be working.

Getting up in years seems to mean losing ourselves a piece at a time. I have tyo get around with a white cane these days, if only to explain why I'm colliding with people, I think that's the part of me I miss the most, my sight.

Just kbnow you've got company here at DU, other people have shared their own diagnoses from time to time. All of us old warriors from the 60s and 70s and falling into decrepitude. I once thought gravity was the enemy of old age. Now I know it's entropy.

[LoisB]

40. A minor mishap. You are one of the stalwarts of DU. Your posts are very informative and

helpful. Yesterday, I opened the microwave instead of the refrigerator to retrieve milk for my coffee so don't feel bad.

[MLAA]

41. Dear Omaha Steve you have built up so many get of jail free cards from all you do to support Dem candidates and

inform us you will never run out. You are a DU treasure.

[CTyankee]

44. I have it, too. Been tested, brain scanned. I'm still here!

As an art historian, I spend an awfully lot of time in other, previous centuries. Gotta love art! It just keeps me going and going and I find new things I didn't know before, all the time. I'll do it until I drop!

[Clouds Passing]

45. Always forgiven, OS

[duhneece]

46. You have built up so many 'get out of jail/mistakes' cards

You will never run out of forgiveness, compassion and love on DU.

[mahina]

47. You are doing beautifully and you are amazing

[SleeplessinSoCal]

48. Bravo! You are doing so well with your diagnosis!!

Never heard that Trazadone was prescribed for Dementia. My hubby took Namenda & Donepezil. Good going! Keep it up.

[70sEraVet]

49. Now, I'M worried!

Your dementia-mistakes are better than my everyday goof-ups!
But then again, I am circumcised, so my excuse is likely late-blooming autism.

[sellitman]

50. Glad you are still sharp as a tack.

This place is better for you having the time and will to post.

[Jack Valentino]

51. You seem to be doing GREAT under the circumstances!

As for breaking LBN rules, any of us could do that without anything like your excuse! No worries.

[TNNurse]

52. You are safe here.

[ancianita]

53. No worries, OS. All your posts are so informative and thoughtful, I don't care where you post them. Be aware that

besides your medicine, it's your actual daily brain work that keeps the synapses firing and the dementia at bay.

And do drink coffee, it's the best organic brain stimulant on the planet. No amount of coffee is too much.


Thank you for being here.

[ReRe]

54. I find it difficult to believe

you have dementia of any kind, Omaha Steve. Since I am 80 minus 4, guess I need to look into this for myself. If I have it, hope I have the kind you have! You are a prolific poster, and I have never noticed anything out of place in any way.
Thanks for all you do here in DU. We appreciate you so much!

[catrose]

55. I feel so lucky that we still have you

[Joinfortmill]

56. Sending good vibes to you! Stay strong.

[herding cats]

57. You're perfectly fine.

Once I was diagnosed (ovarian cancer) and subsequently began the harsh treatment, I accepted my mind wasn't up to my old standards. I then dialed back my posting. My once prized and precious mind had become fragmented, fragile and not as sharp.

I've been here a very, very long time long time OS. I've supported you even back when you were a tad crabby here and used to PM me your angst because I owned a used Lexus. I'd still defend you to the mat.

[slightlv]

58. Steve, it's all good!

We all have times when we post where we shouldn't, or what we want and it comes out in way different forms. I'm really bad at that, myself.

I congratulate you on finding a med that works for you, and also for what sounds like keeping to a schedule to help you through your days. I'm trying to do that with my hubby... but this is a guy who never saw a schedule he liked (gryn). He's got his first CT Brain Scan coming up in a few weeks to get a baseline assessment as to where he is. I hope like hell he's as lucky as you seem to have been. Right now, it just feels like I'm losing my husband and best friend. And it's not only scary, but it hurts like hell.

Keep on keeping on, friend! And no matter what you write or where you write it, I'll be reading right behind you... though obviously we've never met, I count you as a friend. And hope for the absolute best for you. Keep hitting them out of the park, buddy!

[hamsterjill]

59. Steve, you are indeed a treasure.

Wishing you all the very best and then some!

[Edim]

60. Try ketogenic diet

Any reduction in carbohydrates (and seed oils) will help in my opinion and (not personal) experience.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31996078/

[littlemissmartypants]

62. ❤️

[Javaman]

63. all good. :) nt

[Demsrule86]

64. You are amazing. You work hard here

You improve the site and support worthy Democratic candidates everyday. You are also one of the kindest nicest people here. Thanks for sharing your story. As for mistakes, I always make them. We are human.

[Omaha Steve]

67. Welcome to the DU